Norwegian Arms Reflects On Travels In New Record

Girard Freeloader, the newest album from Norwegian Arms, is a travelogue record. It charts the wanderings of the band’s sole member, Keith Birthday, from Peru to Washington state to Toronto to New York and his hometown, Philadelphia. The tracks have their roots in psych-folk, often based around Birthday’s distinctive mandolin-playing. But the realization of this music is forward thinking and contemporary—drawing from soul and electronic pop and, in the process, approximating what ‘80s Peter Gabriel might’ve sounded like if he were plopped into 2017. On album highlight “Visions”, a tricky, time-signature warping verse gives way to a dizzying hook that somehow conjures proggy mysticism and contemporary R&B all at once.

Girard Freeloader is out now via Mutual Crush. You can stream the record in its entirety below. Norwegian Arms will be touring in support of the record starting this Sunday and be performing alongside Dominic at Shea Stadium on February 4.